Clock



Dec. 20, 1932. w. D. JOHNSON CLOCK Filed May 11, 1929 Sheets-Sheet 1 llb i 2 (lbtozmq Dec. 20, 1932. JOHNSON 1,891,281

CLOCK Filed Ma 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM :o. Jonnsoinor MILLER, SOUTH DAKOTA Application filed May 11,

My invention relates to clocks of the type embodying both a time mechanism and an alarm mechanism, andthe primary object of the invention to simplify thistype of clock 5 by employing a single main spring adapted to pieces.

My invention is particularly valuable in connection Wlth the ordinary l'OW-PIlC-Qd alarm clock where the elimination of even a if small part is a matter of great importance.

of a single spring of the same power as the old. spring, and to apply the same amount of power to both of these mechanisms with the single spring as was previously applied with individual springs. I

In. reference to the last obj ea, the method through the axis of the main spring assemblyof accomplishment may be stated at this point without referring to the detailed description of a mechanism involving my invention. If it were attempted to drive both alarm and 5 time mechanisms from one end of the spring and to secure the otier end to a fixed part of the clock frame, the power would be divided between the two mechanisms. invention contemplates driving one of the O mechanisms from one end of the spring and the other mechanismfrom the other end of the spring. Thus the power which would be uselessly applied to a fixed part of the clock frame in a case where one end of the spring were fiXed is employed in driving one of the This follows from the fact that ther modified form of the'main spring asof the invention.

1929. Serial No. 362,392.

the reactive force at the other end of; the spring. a a

It will be understood that the double power attained fromthe-spring will be ofi'set partially by the fact that the spring will be unwinding more rapidly where it is driving two mechanisms from its respective ends than where one end is fixed. *This can be compensated however, by an increase in the length of the spring, which need not be enough,however, to make the spring the full length of the combined springs of the present clock or may be allowed for by-inore frequent windmg. 1

My invention has for a further object to arrange the mechanism, 1

- i/Vith these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 7 r a p Fig. 1 is a plan view of a common type of alarm clock with-one of the frame plates removed, embodying my invention. r

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1 I

Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional view taken Fig. 4: isa detail view of theratchet assembly.

Fig. 5 is a detail, sectional view of a modified form of the spring assembly showing the ratchet.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a detail, sectional view of a fursembly showing another embodied therein. i

Fig. 8'is a plan view of the same. I

I Fig. 9 shows a further modified form of the invention. v

Fig. '10. illustrates how the invention can be further modified and i 1 Fig. 11 is a view of a further modification ratchet mechanism The clock shown in Figs. 1 -4, inclusive, is modeled after the Westclox' sleep-meter.

2 i i,e91,281'

In the present construction this clock includes the frame plates and 11, connected by posts 12 and the alarm mechanism Aland time governor mechanism B, respectively.

The alarm mechanism A in this clock is in the form of a clapper, adapted to enga e a bell carried by the casing of the clock not shown).

The main spring 13 is secured at one end to a barrel 14, in which it is enclosed, and at its other end to a main spring stafi 15, which carries a drive gear 16. The winding of the spring is accomplished by rotating the key 17, which transmits winding power to the barrel 14 through the medium of the key shaftlS, threaded at 19, into the hub of the barrel 14:. The hub is secured rigidlyto the barrel. c

In the present type of clock, the barrel 1% is. held against retrogrademovement by; a ratchet acting between the hub 20 and the frame ,plate- 11. The energy stored in the spring must then .find its outlet through the gear 16 and, the trainof gears 17a, 18a, 19a, 20a, 21, 22 and 23 to the governor escapeinent B. This part of the construction is unchanged in the prefered form of my invention with the exception that; the ratchet be tween the hub 20 and the plate 11 is removed so as. to allow the barrel; to turnfreely in either direction.

A, gear 24 is secured to the barrel and drives the alarm device A through the medium of the train of gears25,26, 27 (shown in dotted! lines) the scape wheel 28 and the double-ended pawl 29, which carries the device A." 7

It will; now be seen that; one end of; the spring applies power to the alarm mechanism A through the medium; ofthebaIIfiLthe drive gear 24 and the train ofgears -27 while the other; end of; the spring applies powertothe governor mechanism 13 through the drive gear 16 and the train; of gears 17a-23. Eachofthe drivenmech'anismconstitutes an anchor for the: end of the spring opposite the end which drives the other driven mechanism.

In orderto rewind thespring, it isnecessary that therebe a ratchet connection somewhere between the alarm mechanism A, and the governor mechanism B. This. ratchet mechanism in the preferred; form of the invention; shown in Figs. 1-4 is embodied. betweenthe intermediate-gears 25 and 26. The gear 25 is a pinion driven from the drive gear 24 and isinounted on astatf 30, which is providedwith a collar 31?, looselysupportingthe gear 26; that is, the gear 26 is journallefd uponqthestaff 30. A ratchetwheel32 is secured to the stafi and coacts witlra pawl 33', carried bythegear 26.1 Acommon form of spring 34 is employed to urge thepawlfinto engagement with theratchetwheel lum erypes clocks, the windingshaft extends clear through the spring and'for'ms the driving gear staff. This type of construction is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the winding shaft 18 is provided with a threaded end 19, threaded into the driving gear staff 150. In this form of construction, the spring is secured at its inner end tothe staif15a and at itsouter'end i'snormally secured to. a post Of the clock frame. In my invention this form of construction ma 7 be modified by securingthe outer end oftiie spring to a barrel 14a, which is loosely mounted on the staff 15a as showninstead of being connected to the clock frame. The gear 24a is secured to the barrel 14a and the gear 16a is secured to the spring: 13: atits inner; end, a hub. being, provided on; the; gear- 16a for this purpose. Insteadof connecting the spring directly to the shatt,cit isconnccted tothe shaftthrough the medium of the ratchet device,,,whichi in this case comprises a ratchet wheel; 320, secured to the staff 15a and coactingwith a pawl33a, carried; by the gear: wheeli 16a. A spring 34a engages the pawlj 33a.

Fig. 5 shows.another-modification inwhich the: Winding power is;applied to the barrelas in the preferred form of my invention" The ratchet; deviceincthiscase, however, is located between: the barrel andv the drive gear 241).. It comprises: an'internal ratchet gear 326, formed integrally with the; gear 246 andv a pawl 33b, carriedby the-barrel Mbandin engagement with the ratchet 326. A sprin 34?) engages the pawl33bh In this formv o theinvention, the gear 246 is loosely mounted between the shoulder. oi the: barrel and a collar 41, secured: to the: barrel as shown.

1 The ratchet device-may be interposedybetweenjthegear 16 and the governor mecha, IliSm,-B;.-,aSshoWn:in1Ili ;9,rwhere the ear 16 is. secured; directly to t estafi-15c, w ichi in turn issecixredrtothe spring 13. The other enduoithespring: -13'issecured to the barrel 140, which is mounted loosely onthe staff 150.; The driving gear- 24 is secured to; the barrel; 140. The ratchetdewice isshown embodied betweenthe-gears 17c and 180. It will ,understoodthat in. thezsame way the ratchet-device might'be embodied between the gears19w and 2.00 or 211 and-22 of the time governor transmission.

Theratchet'wheeliin Eig. 9Lisindicated by The gear 180,-is mountedlooselyion staff A betweenth'eratchet wheeli32c and a shoulder:51,.formed on the staff:

Itmaybenoted in connection with the" form shown in; Fig. 9,. that 1 itxis applicable to the type of construction. in which the spring is secured directly to.the winding shaft.

The preferred. form: of the invention shown: in: Figs. 1 1, inclusive, may be modified by; embodying the; mtchetdevice in the scape wheel 28. This form is shown in Fig. 10, in which the numeral 32d indicates the ratchet secured to the staff 52 of the scape wheel and in which the pawl is indicated at 336%, secured to the scape wheel. The spring is shown at 34d.

The preferred form of the invention may also be modified by embodying the ratchet mechanism in the double ended pawl of the alarm escapement. This modification is shown in Fig. 11 andinstead of the double ended pawl of conventional design, I em ploy a double ended pawl having a body portion 53, a pair of pawls 54 and 55, respectively, hin ed to the body member--53 and a pair of lugs 56 and 57, respectively, which limit movement of the pawls, in one direction. The parts are so arranged that during winding movement, the scape wheel 28 may rotate past the pawls 54 and 55 in the direction which is opposite to its normal direction of rotation during operationof the alarm device, the pawls giving away under yielding movement of the spring 58 to allow the teeth of the scape wheelto pass.

In the forms shown in Figs. 10 and 11, it will be understood that the ratchet devices shown are merely substituted for the ratchet devices shown in Figs. 1-4, and the rest of the mechanism will remain the same with the exception of the omission of the ratchet device, for which either of the modified forms is, substituted.

It will now be seen that the essential fea tures of my invention reside in the employment of a pair of driving gears,one for the alarm mechanism and the other for the time governor mechanism, the use of a single spring, connected at its respective ends to the two gears and adapted to drive them both simultaneously in opposite directions and the use of a ratchet device embodied at any place between the alarm device and the time governor. J

The above elements constitute my invention in its broadest sense, although it will be understoodthat other features of my insemi-cylindrical portion of reduced diameter, a ring gear provided with external spJur teeth and internal ratchet teeth rotata ly mounted on the barrel and receiving said reduced barrel portion, a drive gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, a main spring secured at its inner end to the staff and at its outer end to the barrel, a winding shaft secured to the barrel, one of said mechanisms including a train of gears meshing with the ring and a pawl pivoted on the barrel "within said ring gear and engaging said ratchet teeth thereof, the parts being so arranged that the pawl allows the barrel to rotate free from the ring gear in the direction of winding the spring.

Signed this 1st day of May 1929, in the 5 county of Hand andState of outh Dakota.

.VVILLIAM D. JOHNSON.

vention reside in the ada tation of this broad a principle to the speci c constructions of common types of clock mechanisms in such away as to embody a'minimum amount of change in such mechanisms.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by myclaim, any

modified forms of structure or use of meohanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

In a clock, an alarm mechanism, a time governor mechanism, a main spring stafi, a barrel coaxial therewith, said barrel comprising a spring retaining portion and a 

